We were looking for a walk in the woods. Somewhere to get a taste of the outdoors, appreciate nature and run off some energy on a quiet Sunday morning. It had to be close to Montreal, but somewhere other than Mount Royal, because we had done that once too often recently.

We found our walk at the Parc national du Mont St. Bruno run by Sépaq, the well-organized administrator of Quebec’s 23 provincial parks and numerous wildlife preserves. It is one of only three provincial parks in the Montreal area (the others are Oka and Îles de Boucherville). Located about 30 kilometres east of the city, it took 35 minutes to get there from the Notre Dame de Grâce area with no traffic (and 50 minutes to return, with traffic).

Perched on the edge of St. Bruno de Montarville, the park is an odd oasis of forest and lakes encircled by farms, a ski hill and residential communities that are so close by, one of the walking paths runs on a city street for a short stretch. When the park was created in 1985, nine homes were already established in the area, with the result that walks through the park afford glimpses of some beautiful stone-walled houses tucked into the forests or sitting on the lakefront.

The park covers eight square kilometres and offers five easy walking trails ranging in length from 1.5 to 8.8 kilometres. Because there were three boys ages 6 to 8 in our group, we opted for the relatively flat

seven-kilometre Sentier Seigneurial, which the guide says can be done in 90 minutes. (It took us three hours, with a picnic break, and much time picking up pieces of wood that became guns, swords, bazookas, flame-throwers, a harpoon and an “atomic bomb launcher.” Sadly, no instrument of peace.)

The Seigneurial follows a service road of packed gravel on a wide loop, passing by the two largest lakes in the park. It is broad enough for two vehicles to pass and suitable for the many joggers and bikers coming by. The path was pleasant, but a little too wide too feel like one was having a real walk in the woods. (“Where’s the wildlife?” one of our more urban companions kept asking. “Are there wolves? Are there beavers?” A Discovery Hike and Discovery Stand we visited later showcased the park’s frogs, snakes, turtles and salamanders.) The park’s other paths are less wide and feel more like wilderness.

Our route took us to the Old Mill, a flour mill dating back to 1761 converted this year into a very cozy tea room offering pastries, chocolates, coffee and tea. There were also several picnic tables sitting right on the shores of nearby Lac Moulin, where we had the lunch we had packed, and searched for frogs, turtles and snakes. We continued up the path, circling Lac Seigneurial and happening upon a couple of beautiful homes, including a curvaceous, eclectic structure of beigey-brown undulations with a matching arched entranceway belonging to Insectarium founder Georges Brossard.

We came across many families and couples along the way, as well as a gang of at least 60 people taking their weekly walk with the Bougex singles club. Most, happily, were walking in pairs. In total, more than 900,000 people visit the park each year.

Toward the end of our walk, we veered off the wide path and onto the relatively narrow Sentier des Lacs trail, which felt more like the walk in the woods we had been seeking. It was there we spotted a garter snake slithering through the leaves, 30 centimetres long and resplendent in yellow, orange and black striping. Our wildlife sighting was achieved. Although our urban companion did want to know: “Uh, how many more snakes are around here?”

IF YOU GO

Parc national du Mont St. Bruno is about a 35-minute drive from western Montreal. Take Highway 10 over the Champlain Bridge to the 30 East, follow that to the exit for Chemin de Montarville, and then go left on 25e rang. (The park is well signposted from Highway 30.)

Entry is $6 for adults for the day, $2.75 for kids ages 6-17, and free for children 0-5. One adult with children: $8.75; two adults with children: $12. An annual park card is $30 for an adult, $13.75 for kids, or $43.75 for a family.

It’s open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends. Several discovery walks or interpretive stands are available, showcasing the flora and fauna of the park, as well as its history – The Brothers of St. Gabriel inhabited the parkland for much of the 20th century, farming and running a school. You can also ask for a copy of the 28-page The Forest Revealed booklet at the information desk, which will explain aspects of the scenery along the 8.8-kilometre Montérégien trail, which takes about three hours.

In the winter, the park offers 30 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails, as well as snowshoeing and snow hiking. Equipment rental is available.

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